The Extra's Harem In Dead End Game

Chapter 118: Confessions Over Tea

A woman dressed in a black nun's habit.

She was quite tall, though not as much as Regina. Her face bore a resemblance to that of Professor Lawrence.

She was, in fact, Marianna Lambert, Professor Lawrence's sister.

She looked like any other nun, but her true identity was that of a guardian knight—specifically, the tenth sword of the Order, ranked tenth in the hierarchy.

"Why do you ask, Sister?"

I also responded in a quiet voice.

Marianna smiled gently.

"I was impressed by your devotion in prayer for such a long time. It's not an easy thing to do."

"You flatter me. I always feel my faith is lacking."

"Everyone feels that way. I too always feel the lack," Marianna continued, her hands clasped together.

"If you have the time, I'd like to share some words with you, brother. Would that be possible?"

"Um..."

I pretended to think for a moment before responding.

"It's possible."

"I appreciate you making the time. Shall we move to another spot?"

The place we moved to was the parlor. It was a small rest area with a view of the garden, tidy and with an elegant atmosphere.

Marianna brought out some warm tea.

"Thank you."

I accepted the tea.

*Sip.*

The taste, a blend of slight acidity and fragrance, was quite nice.

"My name is Marianna," she introduced herself first.

"I'm Max Celtrine," I introduced myself as well.

It was the beginning of light conversation. But from here, only a true hardcore player would know how to steer the talk. Like in reality, intimacy isn't given away for free.

It's something that only those who strive and act can obtain.

'I suppose you deliberately didn't mention your surname...'

Depending on how the conversation unfolds, one might not even hear the surname in the worst-case scenario, and then the talk would end. Then, effectively, the relationship doesn't continue.

That's how it was for me at first. But now I know. I just need to lead naturally from my end.

"By chance."

"Yes?"

"Do you have any relation to Professor Lawrence from the Academy? You bear such a striking resemblance."

Marianna looked taken aback.

"Do we really look that alike?"

"It feels that way to my eyes... I apologize if it was rude."

"No. Not at all," Marianna waved her hand.

Then she said,

"He's my brother."

"Ah... I see. So I wasn't mistaken."

"People often say we look alike, but it's the first time someone has recognized me right away."

"I greatly respect the professor, so his image is deeply imprinted on me. That must be why."

A neat way to give a shout-out to Professor Lawrence. A hardcore player must know how to turn their tongue to this extent.

I laughed to myself.

"That's interesting. Now that I think about it, my brother mentioned something about you."

The topic was naturally steered in the direction I wanted.

"Yes? What did he say?"

I looked at Marianna with feigned curiosity.

"He said you were an excellent student."

"Oh, is that so? I'm both embarrassed and very pleased to hear that."

I looked down slightly at my teacup, a pleased expression on my face. To anyone, I looked like a student who was embarrassed but couldn't hide their happiness.

When dealing with someone from the Order, especially Marianna, this was the right approach.

An image of a diligent, polite, and devout believer.

Of course, there is one weakness I haven't experienced. Unlike the protagonist, Max's past was a mess.

But I have an invincible weapon for that too.

Repentance.

The story of becoming a new person through repentance is even more convincing to the people of the Order.

'The weakness must be revealed before it's exposed to taste sweet.'

I changed my expression and opened my mouth.

"Actually," I deliberately trembled my voice.

"I used to be a problem child for a long time. That's why Professor Lawrence's praise means so much to me, it's very moving."

"Really?"

She looked completely unaware that I had been such a student. It made sense for her, someone not so involved in the Academy's affairs.

After all, to her, even a notoriously problematic student was just an extra.

"I was probably a much worse student than you imagine. The professors had almost given up on me. But Professor Lawrence was always strict and scolded me with harsh words. At first, it just felt hateful."

"...."

"But after various trials and tribulations, when I came to my senses, I was able to understand Professor Lawrence's true intentions. He never gave up on a wayward student, trying to rehabilitate them to the end."

"Such things..."

I could tell from Marianna's expression that my story was having an impact.

But this was just the beginning. I had to prove convincingly that I was a properly repentant problem child.

Smirking to myself, I continued.

"Sister."

Marianna's eyes softened, and she leaned forward slightly, intrigued by my confession. I could tell that she was someone who valued genuine repentance. This was exactly what I needed to build trust.

"Yes, Brother Max?" she asked gently, her voice inviting me to continue. brought-to-you-by-MvLeMpYr

I took a deep breath, feigning vulnerability.

"I never expected to change, Sister. I thought I was too far gone. But one day, it just… clicked. I realized how much harm I had done—not just to myself, but to others. It was humbling. And that's when I turned to faith."

Marianna nodded, her hands still clasped in front of her, listening attentively.

"Sometimes it takes the darkest moments to find the light. What brought you to that moment, if you don't mind me asking?"

I hesitated, playing the part of someone reflecting on a painful past.

"It was a series of mistakes, honestly. But the one that broke me… I got involved with the wrong people, made promises I couldn't keep. In the end, it all came crashing down. I was left with nothing but guilt and regret."

Marianna remained silent, waiting for me to finish.

"I didn't know where to turn," I continued, my voice low. "But Professor Lawrence, despite everything, never gave up on me. He pushed me, and in a way, he saved me. That's why I respect him so much."

There it was—another subtle nod to her brother. The more I aligned myself with Professor Lawrence, the more likely Marianna would see me as someone worth trusting, someone who had truly changed.